Multiple filling machine



F. J. COZZOL! MULTIPLE FILLING MACHINE April 10, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 23, 1946 INVENTOR BY MFM ATTORNEY Aprii 310, 1951 F. .1.cozzou MULTIPLE FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1946FYALY,

INVENTOR W ATTO R N EY W 1951 F. J. cozzou 2,548,707

MULTIPLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, 1946 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 FIG.4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,548,707 MULTIPLE FILLING MACHINE Frank J. Cozzoli, Plainfield,.N. J.

Application November 23, 1946, Serial 'No. 711,902

11 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing machines of a character adapted tofill -vials, or like containers, with accurately measured quantities ofpharmaceutical preparations, as, for example, penicillin or other serumsor drugs in liquid form.

The invention has for its primary objectives to obtain and maintain (a)a high standard and condition of sterility in and about a fillingmachine for this purpose; (b) extreme accuracy in the quantity of thepreparation injected into each vial or container; a high output rate, onthe order of 1,000 or more fills per hour per dispensing unit, inconjunction with a provision for automatically suspending operation ofthe dispensing units at the end of a normal run of vials and fortemporarily discontinuing the operation of the dispensing units where agap or blank occurs in the procession of vials, as for example when thespace between trays in which the vials are carried arrives in thefilling position.

By way of additional refinement the invention undertakes to providemanually operable means, operable at will, to start or to stop thefilling operation of the dispensing units, and also for independentlyinitiating or discontinuing the progressive movement of the vials pastthe dispensing units.

Still a further objective is to render available a dispensing apparatuscapable of filling a multiplicity of vials simultaneously, each with anindependently and accurately measured quantity of the preperation to bepackaged, and to provide each dispenser with a positive acting means forregulating and obtaining certainty in the delivery capacity, measured inwhole and in fractional units of 6 cc.

Another object of the invention is to render available an improvedmethod of constructing a filling machine utilizing a relatively fewbasic elements that require little and simply performed machining andwhich may be readily fashioned to suit a specific vial tray arrangementor requirement and thereafter assembled to form the complete custombuilt machine.

The machine of the present invention fills a long standing need in thepharmaceutical industry. Insofar as I am aware, no previous attempt tomeet the industrys need has been made, other than the single head,manually controlled, filling machine disclosed in my prior patentapplication Serial Number 524,417, filed February 29, 1944, now PatentNumber 2,415,419, dated February 11, 1947. If only a few hundred fillsper hour is wanted, that type of machine is satisfactory, provided theproduct being packaged was not subject to contamination either by themanual handling of the containers or by the very proximity of theoperator to the filling head of the machine.

The multiple filling machine .of the present .in-

venti'on is designed to fill a plurality of vials simultaneously andrenders the presence of the eration is fully automatic. The vials to befilled are placed in trays and pass 'directlyfrom a sterilizer to thefilling units upon an intermittently movable carrier, and when each trayhas been correctly located, the succeeding operations of positioning thevials adjacent the filling nozzles, holding them there until-the.filling cycle has been completed, and moving them away and positioninga new group adjacent the nozzles, is entirely power operated andautomatically timed and controlled. When a blank occurs, as the spacebetween successive trays of vials, each filling head is causedautomatically to cease itsifilling operation for the requisite periodand then to resume its filling cycle when the next vial or vials comeinto position. Also, the machine is so organized that when the last vialof a run of trays of vials has been filled, not only is the operation ofthe filling units suspended, but the operation of the carrier propellingmechanism well. The embodying of the mechanism :and controls of thecharacter mentioned eliminates the constant attendance of an operatorand the turbulent atmosphere created in close proximity to the fillingunits, as an incident thereto. From the standpoint of maintainingsterile conditions, quietness of operation in andrabout the machine ishighly important.

Still a further aim of the invention is to render available a vialtransporting mechanism adaptable to various vial and tray requirements,and this invention proposes a carrier constructed preferably in the formo'f an endless conveyor made up of chained links operating over sprocketwheels. The link dimensions and sprocket dimensions are preferablyproportioned with relation to the distance the conveyor .is 'to beindexed between filling operations, and also "with relation to theaggregate distance the conveyor is to be moved for a complete tray,including one gap. To obtain maximum operating efficiency this inventionfurther proposes .a carrier, the total length of which is a multiple ofthe distance .required per tray and gap, so that tray locating devicesand control cams can be established on the carrier at fixed points forthe purpose of exercising cyclic control of the operating mechanismswithout unused conveyor portions being present or recurring.

In its essentials, the machine of the present invention is composed of apair of leg standards upon which are mounted, in spaced apart 'relation,elongated frame elements. The frame elements provide supporting meansfor the sprocket wheels of the conveyor as well as forthe conveyor indexmechanism and filling unit actuating mechanism which preferably islocated between the frame members and between the upper and lower, runsof the conveyor. Supported on top and medially of the ends of the frameis a filling unit tower structure composed of spaced shelves whichlocate and support a plurality of filling units and their relatedactuating and control mechanisms.

The filling heads per se are identical in structure and interchangeable.Each comprises a piston and cylinder member having inlet and dischargeports, valve controlled. Power means in conjunction with adiscriminating yield device, effects piston displacement in a pumpintake direction and gravitational forces effect piston displacement ina pump discharge direction. Each filling unit is provided with a. volumeconvtrol device graduated in whole and fractional units, to providepositive and accurate means of controlling the volumetric capacity ofthe unit. Power for operating the conveyor and the dispensing unitsenters the machine from the outside and consists of an electric motorand a speed reduction unit driven therefrom. These elements aresubstantially entirely enclosed in a vented housing so that theturbulence created thereby is prevented from reaching the filling units.Various cams, levers, etc. convert the continuous motion of the powersource into intermittent motions required for the vial indexing andfilling operations as will hereinafter be explained.

In operation, the machine is caused to receive successive trays of emptyvials, direct from a sterilizer, fill the vials intermittently row afterrow, and to advance the trays of filled vials forward for otherprocessing, without handling. The locating of the successive trays onthe conveyor completes the attendants duty about the machine, all of thefunctions of indexing, filling, skipping, and stopping after the lasttray passes the filling units, being performed automatically.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting apreferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in suchdrawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a multiple filling machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with certainportions broken away to illustrate interior mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the towenmechanisms and driving mechanismswith parts broken away more clearly to illustrate the structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the tower mechanisms taken in steppedplanes corresponding substantially to the horizontal planes of line 4-4of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse view of the tower partly in section, and takensubstantially along line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on line 6-45 of Fig. 3.

circuit.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view, on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the machineillustrated comprises, a pair of leg standards L (the lower portions notbeing shown) which support at their top two spaced apart side members S1and S2. The side frames are elongated, substantially fiat, plates andare provided on their inner surfaces with upper and lower conveyorsupporting tracks It and II. The side frames extend vertically inparallel planes and when bolted or otherwise secured to the leg standardform rigid side walls and bearing mounts for the drive mechanismscontained between the frames. At each end of each frame member, asprocket shaft bearing plate 12 is firmly secured, and sprocket shaftsl3 and, [4 are journaled therein. The sprocket shafts l3 and I4 extendcrosswise the machine, as will be understood, and have pairs of sprocketwheels 15 pinned thereto, one at each side. The distance between thecenters of the sprocket shafts l3 and 14, the number of notches or teeth(pitch) on the sprocket wheels I5, bear a definite relation to thelength and number of vial holding trays that the machine willaccommodate and must bedetermined beforehand with due regard to thenumber and spacing of the vials in each tray and the length of the gapbetween trays.

In the instant embodiment of the invention, the vial trays T aredesigned to contain twelve vials lengthwise, and seven vials crosswise.Provision is made in the carrier length for a gap length G betweengroups of vials equal to the space between two adjacent vialslengthwisethe machine. The linear distance between the first vial of one tray andthe first vial of a succeeding tray, is what may be termed a traylength, and preferably is divided into an equal number of parts whichestablishes the length of the conveyor links it. In the particularembodiment illustrated, there are 6% links per tray-length, and thetotal length of the conveyor is six traylengths, or 39 links. The lengthof the conveyor link is one of the factors used to ascertain the pitchdiameter and number of teeth on the sprocket wheels 15, which, in thiscase has been determined as 9. When 9 links are on the sprockets (4 oneach end), thirty remain and form the upper and lower runs of theconveyor. Two bands of links, running parallel to each other and inphase, and located at opposite sides of the machine, are provided in thepresent embodiment.

The conveyor links l6 are illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3, and eachis provided with a male end and a female end, for uniform interfittingand pivoting to each other. The medial portion of I611 of each link israised slightly to provide a bearing surface for the conveyorcrossplates H. One of the pivot l6?) of each link carries a side roller(60 that rolls upon the tracks l9 and I! provided by the frame members.A portion of each roller is also engaged by the teeth in the sprocketwheels [5 as it leaves the straight portions of the conveyor runs (Fig.2).

Conveyor indexing mechanism The shaft l4 carries medially of its ends aratchet wheel I8 provided with teeth [9 that are adapted to besuccessively engaged by a pawl 28. The pawl 20 is pivoted to one end ofan index lever 2i that is fast on a horizontal shaft 22. The shaft 22 isjournaled in bearings 23 secured to the inner walls of the frame membersand is free to oscillate. The other end of the and is actuated by a cam25 secured to a main cam shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in bearings21 secured to the frame members and extends through the rear frame intoa speed reduction housing 28 that houses a worm wheel 29 and drivingworm 36. A belt and pulley system, indicated generally at 3! transmitpower from a motor 32 to the worm 30. A housing 33, having an exhaustvent 35 at its top, surrounds and encloses the speed reduction unit,pulleys, belt, and motor so that the motor fouled air and disturbancecreated by the main drive mechanism is confined within the housing 33andfrom which it may be conveniently exhausted or otherwise taken awayfrom the machine. The motor is connected with and controlled by a mainswitch SW provided at the side of the machine.

The index cam 25 is constructed with a rising portion 25a, a dwellportion 25b, and a descending and resetting portion 250, proportioned asto magnitude and arcuate length to effect repeated indexing movements ofthe conveyor in amounts equalling the vial spacing, with a dwell periodbetween index movements adequate for the vial filling operation. Atension spring 28a connected between the index pawl 26 and lever 2|yieldingly maintains the pawl in operating position, and another spring2la connected to a lever 221) on the shaft 22, is provided to reset theindex pawl and normally to maintain the roller 24 in abutting relationwith the index cam 25.

Index Zeuer holdout The index lever shaft 22 carries a second lever 34,one side 35 of which functions as an abutment. A cam 36 on a shaft 31located adjacent the lever 3 is adapted to coact with the abutmentsurface 35 to hold the index lever 2! out of action in its most advancedposition. The cam shaft 3'? extends through the frame and is providedwith a pull pin type of handle 38 by which it may be oscillated from theposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 to a position such that the pullpin 38a in the handle registers with the other of the two locating holes3% (only one shown). The positions mentioned correspond to the full anddotted line positions respectively of the cam 36 shown in Fig. 3, theformer position permitting indexing, and the latter position holding theindex lever 2| ineffective. When the pull 'pin handle 38 is shifted tothe hole 381), the cam will occupy the dotted line position (Fig. 3) andthe index lever roller 24 is held out, and its driving cam 25 rotateswithout producing conveyor movement. Two or more index levers may becontrolled selectively in this way, when two or more different indexspacings per tray length are required in a given machine.

Tower structure Medially of the length of the frame members flangedtower risers M3 and 4! are located and firmly secured, one at each sideof the machine (Fig. 2), and across the tops of which a filling unitsupporting plate 43 is bolted. A second set of risers l4 and 45 aresuperposed upon the plate 43 and support a micrometer plate 46 acrosstheir tops. And a third set of risers 41 and 48 are superposed on theplate 46 and supports a cover 49. The risers, cross plates, and coverare bolted and pinned together and form a rigid box-like structurehaving spaced. shelves,

firmly united with the main frame members S1 and S2.

The letter F indicates a filling head unit, of which in the instantmachine seven are employed, and M indicates a volume control device inthe form of a micrometer stop, one stop device being operatively relatedand associated with each filling head. These assemblies per so aresimilar to the corresponding assemblies disclosed in detail in myaforesaid patent application and to avoid undue repetition only a briefdescr ip tion will be set forth herein.

Filling head As all the filling heads are alike and interchangeable, butone will be described. Referringv to 'Fig. 3, each fillin head comprises'a'. body member 5!, in which is provided a cylinder 52, and acooperating piston 53. Ball valves 54 and 55, located in intake conduit'56 and discharge conduit 5'1, respectively, control the flow of thepreparation into and out of the cylinder. The discharge of fluid isthrough a nipple 58 and a vial filling needle or nozzle 59. The needle59 projects through an opening 43a in the unit supporting plate 43 andterminates slightly above the top of a vialstationed therebeneath. Theupper part of the cylinder 52 and the piston 53, is enclosed by ahousing '60 and BI in which is also contained a flexible diaphragm 62that closely surrounds the piston rod extension '53 and prevents ingressof foreign or contaminating matter to the cylinder. The nipple 64 ofeach unit is adapted to be connected to a bulk source of thepreparation. When the piston 53 is reciprocated, fluid is drawn into thecylinder chamber 52 through conduits 64, 55 past the ball valve 54, anddischarged through conduits 57, 5B, and 59 past ball valve 55, valves 5sand 55 alternately opening and closing their respective passages, as inan ordinary pump. Each of the filling units is accurately positioned andremovably held in place upon the plate 43 by clamp screws 431), with theseveral heads oppositely positioned and staggered as illustrated in Fig.4 whereby to position the respective discharge needles 59 in analignment corresponding to the alignment of the vials in the trays.

Micrometer stop Above and aligned with each filling .head piston, amicrometer stop device M is located. Referring more particularly to Fig.3, each micrometer stop comprises essentially, an exteriorly graduatedand interiorly threaded barrel member that is fastened securely to theplate 46; a centrally disposed threaded spindle 55; and a graduatedsleeve '51 pinned to the upper end of the spindle. The lower end of thespindle is adapted, by means of its threaded connection with the fixedbarrel, to be adjusted toward or away from the end of the filling unitpiston rod extension 53, the intervening space being the precisedistance the piston of the filling unit is permitted to move. In thisway the volumetric displacement of each filling unit may be individuallydetermined with a high degree of exactness.

Filling head actuating means When the number of filling heads permachine permits, the front and rear heads are connected in pairs bycross arms H3. Each arm is pivoted at H to a vertically movable plunger:2 that is reciprocably mounted in a bushing 1.3 carried by the plate 46(Fig. 5.). The free ends of the cross arms are reduced in size and entertransverse openings 53a formed in the piston extensions 63 of thefilling units. Upward movement of the plunger l2,-accordingly, elevatesthe pistons until each is positively stopped by the anvil of itsrespective micrometer, the pivoted cross arm member functioning as anequalizer. When the number of filling units per machine is odd, one ofthe units, preferably the end unit, is connected to a vertically movableplunger by means of a non-pivoted half cross arm. The arm ma shown atthe extreme right in Fig. 2, is

of this type. f

- Each of the several plungers 12, has a yielding connection with across bar 14, which comprises (Fig. a reduced extension 12a about whicha compression spring 1212 is fitted. The extension 12a enters a holeprovided in the bar '14, which hole is enlarged from the upper side ofthe bar to house the spring 12b. The spring abuts the lower end wall ofthe recess thus formed and reacts against a guide plug and retaining nut12c mounted upon the upper end of the extension 12a. The shoulder 12d onthe plunger is by this means normally brought up against the undersideof the cross bar Hi. However, when upward movement of the pistons of thefilling heads is positively stopped by the micrometers, any additionalupward movement of the cross bar M (as will later be explained) furthercompresses the spring 12b. Upon movement of the cross bar in theopposite direction (downwardly) the cross bar will press upon theshoulder 72d and depress the plungers, the crossarms HI and filling headpistons 53 moving corresponding amounts efiecting discharge of thepreparation previously entrained in the cylinders, into the vials. Toinsure accuracy and completeness of the discharge of each pair offilling heads, individual compression screws 15 are mounted above andaligned with the plunger extensions 12a. The screws 75 are threadedthrough a supplemental bar 16 carried by the cross bar 74 and areadapted to be individually adjusted against the plungers ,12, 1211, sothat each piston of each filling head is caused to return to itslowermost position relative to its cylinder upon the down movement ofthe cross bar 14 its full distance. The down movement of the cross bar14 is effected by gravity and as it lowers, its entire weight hangs uponthe piston plungers of the filling heads insuring the full and completedischarge from each.

Cross bar and plunger elevating means As indicated above, the cross baris vertically movable, and to effect such movement, power means has beenprovided. Figs. 1, 3 and 5, illustrate the structure most clearly, whichincludes a sprocket wheel 88, fast on the main drive shaft 26, anendless chain SI, and another sprocket 82 driven by the chain. Thesprocket 82 is secured to a transversely extending shaft 83 journaled inbearings a l provided by the frame, and

carries at each end a stepped cam 85. The

stepped cams are positioned on each side of the machine and actuateantifriction rollers 88 that are removably mounted to the lower ends ofvertically extending bars 89 and 90. The bars 89 and 90 extend upwardlyalong the sides of the tower (Figs. 2 and 5) and are notched to receivethe ends of the cross bar 14, and bolted securely thereto. The lower endportions of the uprights 89 and 99 are notched to receive the ends ofanother cross bar 9|, and bolted securely thereto. The constructiondescribed affords a vertically movable box-like structure that surroundsthe filling heads, and which carries at its lower portion the removableanti-friction rollers 88. Fig;

5 illustrates the rollers 88 aligned and tracking the larger step 86 ofthe cam (the roller on the opposite side of the machine is similarlypositioned) and when so related, rotation of the cam 86 effects verticalmovement of the boxlike frame (89, 14, 90, 9|) a given maximum distance,the plungers 12 connected with the bar 14, and the cross arms and thefilling pistons responding also. When the rollers 88 are removed fromthe vertical bars and turned around so that they track the smaller cam81, the box frame, plungers, etc. are similarly actuated but to a lesserextent. As the actuating cams revolve, their descending portions 861)and 81b, limit the descent (by gravity) of the box frame 89, I4, 50, andSI and the downward movement of the pistons 63 to a rate best adapted toeffect a quiet and harmonious discharge of the liquid into the vials. Atthe dwell portion 85a of the cams, a slight clearance is provided sothat at the end of the discharge stroke the weight of the entire boxframe 89, etc., plungers l2, and cross arms 78 hang upon the pistons 53whereby to insure completeness in their respective strokes and accuracyand uniformity in the successive discharges.

For convenience in making a change in the available stroke of thefilling head pistons, each of the follower rollers 88 is provided with aspacer extension 88a and securing studs 8% are provided, designed topass through the roller and its extension from either side. Removableguards 840. are provided to enclose the cams during normal use of themachine.

The purpose of the stepped cam actuator is to reduce the extent that thespring 12%} of each piston lifting plunger is compressed when therelated micrometer stops are adjusted to hold the delivery quantity toless than maximum. Normally the stroke imparted by the cam to the crossbar it should always exceed the piston stopping point, controlled by themicrometers, to insure that each filling head piston will be displaced(on its intake stroke) its correct amount, but the excess travel of theactuator should not be so great as unduly to burden or impair, by reasonof excessive spring compression, the accuracy of the micrometer stops.Therefore, this invention proposes an improved means for dividing thetotal throw of the actuating cam into two (or more if desired) workingranges wherein and whereby delivery settings above and below givenvalues may be more efficiently effected by selecting the proper size ofcam. A further advantage of adapting the actuator to the necessarypiston stroke requirements is that almost the entire periphery (360) ofthe cam 85 is utilized in reciprocating the pistons of the fillingunits, and if one large cam only was employed, but only half, forexample, of its stroke was needed to reciprocate the piston of thefilling unit, approximately only half of the cams periphery (180) wouldbe utilized. This would mean that the intake and discharge strokes ofthe filling head would be caused to occur on only a fraction(approximately half) of the cams periphery, with consequent abruptnessin cessation and starting of fluid flow, provoking splashing andunnecessary overburdening of the machine elements, one half the time. Bydividing the actuating cam into two or more parts, with means forconveniently shifting from one lobe one end of which extends a shortlever 98.

Latch mechanism Occasionally, it is necessary to stop the action of thefilling heads, 1. e. when the gap between trays is reached, or fortesting or sampling purposes, and automatic and manually controlledmeans have been provided forthis purpose. Referring to Figs. 2, S, 5,and 6, a preferred form of unit lock out mechanism is illustrated whichcomprises one or more pawl elements Elia mounted upon the plate 46 sothat their operating ends lie adjacent the bar l4. Beveled notches Slaare cut into the bar at levels, relative to the pawl, that correspondwith the high portions of the respective actuating cams as, 8?. Thepawls are mounted upon a rock shaft 92, from A rod 9 is connected to thelever 93 and extends downwardly, through plates M and it connects at itslower end with another lever 95 which is pivoted as at 95 to the riserThe lever 95 also carries a roller ill" in substantial alignment withthe rod dd, that is adapted to cooperate with skip cams Qt mounted uponthe conveyor plates. As one of the cams approaches and lifts the roller91 the rod a l is elevated, and in turn, rocks lever 33 and the pawlsQua into one of the recesses SIa in the cross bar it. This action of themechanism is caused automatically to occur when the last vial of a trayhas been.

filled and the conveyor begins to move a blank space (the gap G betweentrays) into position under the filling needles. The length of the skipcams 93 are also proportionedto continue holding the pawls 98a inengagement with the bar i4 until the first row of vials of a succeedingtray comes into position under the needles.

The plunger lifting bar "54 may also be latched up. out of action,manually by turning a knob.

59 from the Fill position shown in Fig. 3 to the Stop positionindicated. The knob 59 is mounted upon a shaft I535 that carries at itsinner end a cam IBI operatively related to an abutment pin Hi2projecting from theside of the lever 95 (Fig. 6-). The cam It'll isformed with a high portion which when rotated into position under theabutment pin I62, holds the lever 95 elevated and likewise the pawl rod94.

To protect the latch mechanism against injury due to inadvertentoperation, the pawl rod il is constructed preferably in two parts, theadjacent ends of which are tensioned apart by a spring eta. A sleeve 9317 surrounds and telescopes a shouldered extension of the upper sectionof the rod 9%, and is secured to the lower section. The sleeve and thecoacting shoulder portions hold the rodsections together, yet permit areasonable amount of relative endwise movement to occurbetweenthe rodsections when necessary. This safety feature guards against machineinjury should the plunger actuating bar be latchedup by the. pawl beingpositioned in the upper notch (smallest cam 8'5. serving as the initialactuator) and then inadvertently removing and turningthe follower roller88' around so that. the large: cam 86 becomes the actuator.

and

When. set in motion the. larger cam 86' would attempt to lift thecrossbar further eventhoug h it. was latched by the pawl. With. thedisclosed yield device incorporated,howeversuch additional. movementthat may be imparted to the cross bar It merely causes the pawl fill tobev cammed out of the notch in which it was initially moved or locked.

Absent tray control The upper portions of Fig. 4 i1lustrates,.in plan, apreferred form of mechanism adapted to bring the entire machine to astop whenever'the trays of vials do not follow-one another continuously.This figure illustrates two trays T of vials properly located upon theconveyor plates II by means ofa series, of screw fastened locatingbuttons I I0, two. being. provided near each corner of each tray. Thelocating buttons that are between two trays, as well as the handles thatare attached to the tray ends, usually prevent compacting off the trayson the conveyor any closer than one vial spacing or one index movementof the conveyor. And with certain trays, or to meet certainconditionssuch as. to gain orzlosea fraction of a .conveyor link, two vialspacings or index moyements. may be necessary betweenthe last and firstvials of successive trays. In the embodi:

ment illustrated the gap between the last vial of a.

elevated'position (suspending operation of the I filling heads) duringthe time the conveyor is indexing through the blank space between trays.Should there be no trayfollowing the blank space, the roller Bl woulddrop off the cam 98, the pawl 9t would unlatch the plunger bar I4, andthe filling units. would discharge their contents over the. machine. Toprevent such accidents a control device'has been incorporated which functions to stop the machine withthe plunger barf I4 in latched positiomasa filled tray leaves, the. filling station if it is. not followed byanother; A mechanism for'this purpose may assume varied forms, but asthe trays themselves, or their abe' sence, is the critical factor,.the.present invenf; tion proposes amechanism that responds ltd the presenceor absence. of the. trays. A control means for this purpose comprises atwo-armed lever I20, onev arm I2I of which, reacts totray movements andthe other arm I22 of which 01 ates a Micro switch I23. The lever ispivoted at I24 to the side of the machine, preferably to the base flangeMa of the riser ll, and the arm I2 I thereof extends outwardsubstantially in alignment with the sides of the trays T. Twoanti-friction rollers I25 are pivoted to the lever arm ill in spacedrelation so that their outer peripheries span the gap between successivetrays and normally engage the sides of the trays. The switch. arm I22 ofthe lever I20 carries an adjustable switch operating screw I22a that isset to clear the actuating button of the normally closed Micro switchI23. A tension spring I26 connectedswith the lever I20 tensions therollers I25 outwardly (toward the center of the machine) so that in theabsence of a following tray, the lever I28 will swing counter-clockwise(in Fig. 4) as soon as the tray that is at the filling station leavesthat station. The counterclock-f wise movement of the lever I29 causesits arm, I22 and the screw I22a to engage and operate the ii "Microswitch to open" position. The circuit of the Micro switch is connectedin series with the main starting switch SW and the motor 32, asillustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7, and the opening of the Microswitch breaks the circuit to the motor and the latter comes to a stop.As there is no appreciable coast of the main drive, carrier, etc., themachine stops with the filling head pistons elevated, their intakestrokes completed, and maintained in that position by reason of the factthat the lift rolls 8B are upon the high dwell portion 86a or 8111, asthe case may be, of the cam 85. Operation A full tray of empty vials isplaced upon the conveyor and located by the buttons H0, with the firstrow of vials under the discharge needles 59. The filling heads F areconnected to a source of the preparation to be injected in the vials andthe micrometer stops M adjusted for the delivery desired. The startingswitch SW is then actuated which starts the machine cycle. On completionof the filling of the first row of vials, the carrier indexes oneposition which brings the second row of vials into position under thefilling needles. of the filling heads are moved upwardly, on theirintake strokes by the cams 85 and as the index movement finishes, theintake strokes have been completed. While the carrierand vials are atrest, the pistons of the filling heads descend and expel the contents oftheir respective cylinders into the vials, meanwhile the index cam 25 isturning so that the index lever roller 24 tracks the resetting portion250 thereof and the spring 2 la resets the index pawl in preparation forthe next index movement. The filling and indexing cycles are repeateduntil the last row of vials of the tray have been filled and as soon asthey begin to move away from the filling station, one of the cams 98engages and elevates the latch actuating roller 91. This occurs as thefilling head pistons reach the end of their intake strokes, whereuponthe bar 14 becomes latched andthe pistons prevented from moving on theirdischarge strokes. Thereafter one or more index movements are completed,which (with the filling pistons latched) brings the first row of vialsof a succeeding tray into filling position. At this point, the latchroller 91 will have dropped on the cam 98 and the latching pawl 90 willbe disengaged from the bar 14. Thereafter, the filling of the vials, rowafter row, with intervening indexing movements continues as before.Should a tray of vials not be followed by another tray, the controllever I20 and switch I23 will be actuated, as above explained, and themachine brought to a stop. The machine may also be stopped at any timeby pressing the stop button of the main switch SW. Filling withoutindexing may be efiected by operating the index lever control handle 38to its index hold-out position, or indexin without filling may beefiected by turning the'latch knob 99 to stop position.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be,andareintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of thefollowing claims.

During the index movement, the pistons Having thus revealed thisinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure the followingcombinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent ofthe United States:

1. A filling machine having in combination an endless conveyor mechanismconstructed of connected links adapted to transport trays of vialsthereon with the trays uniformly spaced apart and with the vials in eachtray uniformly spaced from each other a unit distance, the length of thesaid space between successive trays being equal to a whole number of theunit spacings be tween the vials in a tray, the total length of saidconveyor being a whole number multiple of the number of links occupiedby one of said trays of vials plus the said space between two adjacenttrays, and said links each having a length equalling twice the spacingof the vials in said trays, relatively stationary vial filling meansadjacent the conveyor operative cyclically to fill the vials when theyare in filling relation therewith, conveyor indexing means constructedand arranged to move the conveyor intermittently and in uniformincrements equalling one-half of a link length so that the individualvials of each tray are successively moved in uniform increments to therelatively stationary vial filling means,.and conveyor actuated meansoperative automatically to render said filling means ineffective duringthe interval the conveyor is moving a tray of filled vials away from thefilling means and a tray of unfilled vials into filling position.

2. A filling machine for filling a series of rows of vials with apharmaceutical preparation combining a series of individual dispensingmeans arranged with their discharge nozzles aligned in conformity withthe alignment of the vials in said rows of vials, each of saiddispensing means embodying a movable element operative to eifect thedispensing operation and whose extent of movement determines thequantity volumetrically to be dispensed, means for actuating all saidmovable elements in unison, said means including a member having anormally fixed stroke and yieldable means between said member and saidmovable elements, adjustable but normally positive means individual toeach dispenser for limiting the extent of movement of its associatedmovable element whereby independently to regulate the quantity ofpreparation to be dispensed by each dispenser irrespective of the extentof movement of said member having a normally fixed stroke, means forchanging the stroke of said member to a value less than said normalstroke thereby to relieve said yieldable means of excessive pressurewhen said adjustable means are adjusted to appreciably decrease theextent of movement of the movable elements of the dispensers, and meansfor positioning successive rows of vials in filling relation with thedischarge nozzles of the said dispensers to receive simultaneousfilling.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said actuating meansincludes an equalizing connection between each two of said moveableelements.

4. A filling machine combining a liquid dispensing means embodying amovable element adapted to effect the dispensing operation and whoseextent of movement determines the quantity to be dispensed, means foractuating said movable element, said means including a member having anormally fixed stroke and a yieldable connection between said member andsaid element, adjustable means for limiting the extent of movement ofsaid movable element in response to the movement of said member toregulate the quantity of the liquid to be dispensed irrespective of theextent of movement of said member having a normally fixed stroke, meansfor changing the stroke of said member to a value less than said normalstroke thereby to relieve said yield means of excessive pressure whensaid dispenser is adjusted to dispense appreciably less than its fullcapacity.

5. A filling machine adapted to fill vials with a pharmaceuticalpreparation comprising a filling head adapted to be connected to asource of the preparation, power means normally effective to operatesaid filling head cyclically to effect successive filling operations, aconveyor mechanism adapted and arranged to support a plurality ofaligned vials arranged in spaced groups with spaces between groupsgreater than the spacing between centers of any two adjacent vialswithin a group and for indexing the respective vials of each groupsuccessively and intermittently into and out of filling positionrelative to the filling head, connections between said power means andsaid conveyor operative to index the conveyor intermittently uniformincrements, each increment equalling the spatial distance betweencenters of any two adjacent vials of a group, filling head latchingmeans operative when actuated to latch the filling head out of action,and means including a cam element carried by and movable with theconveyor at a point operatively related with the normal location withthe last vial of a group of vials on the conveyor to actuate saidlatching means when the last vial of a preceding group has been filledwhereby to discontinue the action of the filling head during the indexmovements of the conveyor between groups of vials and to restore thefilling head to normal action when the first vial of a succeeding groupof vials has been successively indexed into filling position.

6. The combination set forth in claim characterized by additionalcontrol means operatively responsive to the passing of the last ofsuccessive groups of vials out of filling relation with the filling headto discontinue the action of the filling head and the movement of theconveyor.

7. A filling machine adapted to fill rows of vials mounted in alignedrelation in trays with a pharmaceutical preparation combining a conveyormechanism adapted to support at least two trays in spaced relation,power means including connections with the conveyor constructed andadapted to move the conveyor intermittently and in uniform incrementswhereby to effect movement of the vials in the trays successively andintermittently into and out of filling relation with vial filling means,pump means of the piston and cylinder type positioned adjacent theconveyor operative when actuated to effect filling of the vialssuccessively, means comprising said power means and connections to saidpump means to actuate same in synchronism with the movements of theconveyor to effect vial filling operations during eriods of rest of theconveyor, and means responsive to conveyor movements to render theaction of said pump means ineffective during the indexing movements ofthe conveyor required in moving the last vial of a preceding tray out offilling position and the first vial of a succeeding tray into fillingposition.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including means synchronizedwith the movement of the last tray of vials placed upon the carrier 14operative when the last row of vials of said last tray have been filledto discontinue the action of the filling heads and the movement of thecarrier.

9. A vial filling machine having in combination, a main frame structurefashioned to support a movable carrier adapted to transport vials, viallocating devices attached to said carrier to locate the vials on thecarrier in equally spaced predetermined positions; power means forindexing said carrier in a closed path intermittently, comprising arotatable cam member, a follower member arranged normally to abut thecam so as to be actuated thereby continuously, and operative connectionsbetween the follower and the carrier for transmitting the movement ofthe former to the latter, relatively stationary vial filling headsadjacent said movable carrier adapted and arranged to fill a selectednumber of vials when the latter are at rest in filling relationtherewith, means to actuate said filling heads from said power meanscomprising a second rotatable cam member and a second cam followerarranged normally to abut the cam so as to be actuated therebycontinuously, each of said cams having follower engaging ascending and.descending portions whereby advancing and retractive movements of itsassociated follower are cyclically effected on rotation of the cams,said portions of the respective cams being relatively positionedout-of-phase so that the carrier is at rest during a filling action andthe filling action suspended during a carrier index mcvement, fillinghead latching means including additional devices attached to and movablewith the carrier operative to latch the said second cam follower out ofaction on completion of a predetermined number of vial fillingoperations thereof and thereafter to render the said second cam followerefiective on completion of a predetermined indexing movement of thecarrier.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including manually operablemeans associated with said filling head latching means operative at willto effect latching of the said second cam follower out of action.

11. The combination of claim 9 including manually operable meansassociated with the said first mentioned cam follower to lock the saidfollower out of action whereby to stop indexing movements of the carrierwhile actuation of the filling heads continue. I

FRANK J. COZZOLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 505,005 Roth Sept. 12, 1893581,700 Donaly May 4, 1897 804,170 Prince Nov. 7, 1905 1,137,128. GeyerApr. 27, 1915 1,181,090 Winkley Apr. 25, 1916 1,195,611 Schmitt Aug. 22,1916 1,223,293 Rose Apr. 17, 1917 1,273,988 Bausman July 30, 19181,346,948 Friedman July 20, 1920 1,393,276 Fuller Oct. 11, 19211,442,405 Hawthorne Jan. 16, 1923 1,659,802 Bergmann Feb. 21, 19281,795,312 Mojonnier et a1. Mar. 10, 1931 2,142,257 Saeta Jan. 3, 19392,414,235 McManus Jan. 14, 1947

